{"product_id":"frontenac-grape","title":"Frontenac Grape","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Vigorous, Ultra-Hardy Red Wine Grape Bred for the North\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrontenac Grape (\u003cem\u003eVitis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Frontenac') is the grape that put cold-climate winemaking on the map — a University of Minnesota release hardy to roughly -30°F, with vigorous vines that ripen heavy clusters of small, deep-blue berries for bold red and rosé wines. It's self-fertile, disease-resistant, and productive, needing only full sun and a sturdy trellis. Whether you're starting a backyard vineyard in Edina, covering an arbor in Maple Grove, or growing your own wine grapes in Woodbury — Frontenac thrives in zone 4b–5a (and colder) gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrontenac Grape Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eVitis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Frontenac' (U of MN)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous fruiting vine (wine grape)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20+ feet on a trellis; train to your system\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (8+ hours) for ripening and sugar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate while establishing; fairly drought-tolerant once rooted\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a); hardy to about -30°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWell-draining; tolerates a range of soils. Avoid wet, low spots; good air drainage reduces disease.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePollination\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-fertile — a single vine will fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUse\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRed and rosé wine; high sugar with bright acidity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMid- to late September in the Twin Cities\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExceptional — among the hardiest wine grapes, to roughly -30°F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrontenac Grape Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBackyard vineyard\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrontenac is the backbone of many Minnesota home and commercial vineyards. Train it on a two-wire trellis in full sun in a Plymouth yard for reliable crops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eArbors and screens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts vigor makes it excellent for covering an arbor or pergola, giving summer shade plus a fall grape harvest in Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWine and juice\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown for deep color and bright cherry notes, Frontenac makes robust reds, rosés, and port-style wines, plus juice and jelly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Frontenac Grape in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring (late April–May) after hard frost so the vine has a full season to establish. Fall planting is not recommended for grapes here. Never plant after mid-October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Frontenac Grape\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose the sunniest, best-drained spot you have — a south or west slope is ideal for ripening and air drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstall the trellis before or at planting; grapes need sturdy support from year one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig a hole 2–3× the root width; backfill with native soil and some compost. Don't over-fertilize.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace vines 6–8 feet apart along the trellis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater in well and mulch lightly, keeping mulch off the trunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe first two years, train a single strong trunk and remove fruit so the vine builds structure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Frontenac Grape in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 4–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Weekly; deep but infrequent watering encourages deep roots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished vines are fairly drought-tolerant; water only during extended dry spells. Avoid keeping the root zone constantly wet, which invites disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen and how do I prune grapes?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrune in late winter while fully dormant, removing about 80–90% of the previous year's growth. Grapes fruit on new shoots from one-year-old wood, so annual hard pruning is essential for good crops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need two vines?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — Frontenac is self-fertile and fruits on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's one of the hardiest wine grapes, surviving to about -30°F without burial. Good site air drainage matters more than winter protection here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrontenac Gris Grape — the white-wine mutation with peach and apricot notes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarquette Grape — a complex, hardy red from the same breeding program\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSt. Croix Grape — a hardy red for wine and fresh eating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1\/7\" Pot","offer_id":54312911995185,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/frontenac-grape.jpg?v=1779557843","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/frontenac-grape","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}